Further erosion compromises the safety of residents and users of the beach below, the geotechnical engineers said.

Consultants have indicated the landslip following the June 2007 storm started at the top of the slope, within the resident’s properties, and was not initiated by erosion at the bottom of the slope.

“In November, 2007, council issued orders to several property owners in the area requiring works be undertaken at the cliff top to remove the retaining walls and fill constructed by residents without the approval of council,” council's sustainability manager, Greg White, said.

“The thinking behind this was that the structures could cause further landslips and be a danger to the public accessing the beach below.”

Mr White said most of the residents had undertaken works to comply with the orders issued by council, while others had provided alternative measures they considered suitable to meet the objectives of the orders.

“In consultation with our geotechnical engineers, council has considered the residents’ submissions and conducted several site meetings with the residents over the last few months with regard to the orders process,” Mr White said.

“We have looked at what could be done to enable the residents to enjoy their property’s wonderful location into the future.

“This resulted in council reducing the impact the orders would have on the residents by reducing their excavation requirements. Therefore, we issued revised orders in September.”

Council said no development applications had been lodged by residents for alternative or replacement works.

“We have, however, reviewed some preliminary plans for new additional works,” Mr White said.

“We have a duty of care, as a council, to ensure that any future development on coastal land is safe for both the applicant and public and the plans provided to date do not meet this standard.”

The proposed toe drainage structure would replace the groundwater drainage system at the bottom of the slope that was damaged during the June, 2007, storm.

“This structure will fulfil the same function, but will also add the benefit of protecting the toe of the slope against erosion during storms,” Mr White said.

“The combination of this, together with the work undertaken by residents on their properties, should ensure that the area remains relatively stable for many years to come.”